This black pot won't cook in the sun!

I've been trying to come up with an idea to keep my big black tree pots from baking in the sun...
This is the reed fence they sell at Lowe's. It is 6' tall and 15' long.. I cut it with the clippers... it's braided with wire, so I just twisted the ends to connect the "skirt".

It's not the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but when I under plant with Caladiums, you won't see the top. I believe this pot will be out in the sun better than straight black.. and Heaven knows, with that $23. reed fence.. I have enough to do a LOT more pots this way!

Great idea, I think it looks good.
Janice

Ditto Janicekay, and they look ruggedly attractive to me. :-)
Kim

I like the way it looks too zz. It will blend in nicely with nature tones and let the Show Off Blooms colors show off even more.Black pots can really detract by catching the eye straight off☺

Very nice Idea..May I steal?? I do try to use alot of the foam pots. I have never used them for Brugs YET because I just got some Brugs last fall and they are growing like crazy!!! But I am going to pot them up ASAP and wondered if foam pots are as good or no different than nursery black pots??? Also please advise if any CONSIDERATIONS need to be made in soil or in the pot..???
Enlighten me please!!
Julie

That looks very nice and tropical and I agree it will fit right in with any garden scene.

Do you use any type of water crystals in your soil?

I usually underplant with sun coleus and petunias or something that will creep over the edge of the pot. I'd be interested in seeing yours with caladiums.

ZZ, I really like it too! I've been wanting to look into the reed fences to hide a section of chain link I hate. So, $23 gets you 15 feet. Thanks for the idea. And it won't be long before you won't even see the pot because everything else will have filled in around it.

That is a nice attractive way to cover the pot. Good Idea! I was thinking of just painting mine white but I like that Idea better~so much prettier.

Hmm, I bet you could take a glue gun and add seashells, starfish, wood beads, etc.

This message was edited Feb 13, 2008 2:40 PM

Thank you all.. I appreciate the kind words.

I was even thinking I could like hot glue some moss on them or something that would make them all a little different.. The moss would hold moisture for a little while in the heat anyway.

Badseed... here is one that was underplanted last year.. I can't wait for it to get warm enough for them this year! I love Caladiums cause you don't have to wait for them to bloom to look nice..

I am done with petunias probably forever since I have such a problem with caterpillars.. I had tons of them last year! Petunias attracted them like magnets.. but I love petunias!

That is so pretty zz ...and your pot cover is cute!

Great idea ZZ it looks wonderful!!!

ZZ,
How big is the pot? I have some 3 gallon but they don't look big enough for brugs to stay in. I do like your idea. I was going to pain mine also. There are so many things we could do.
Other ideas?

I've tried the painting idea. For me, it didn't work as well as I would've liked...it started to peel/chip off half way through the year. Looking back, it was probably because I didn't prime them. I saw somewhere where someone spray painted all their pots with a dark gold/bronze metallic color and it was really pretty. All the pots were small and cluster together so it looked great. But, to me, the painting route has to really be able to hold up to the abuse of water and heat.

Brenda said she painted her pots with patio furniture paint and it worked great.

This particular pot is a tree pot.. I'm not sure how big.. just way big.. LOL 25 gal? I'm not sure.. I just call em tree pots. This is as big as I go unless it's in a wine barrel.

ZZ, my DH just put up a roof over the small back deck with reed-fencing material yesterday. It will be shade for my numerous pots of baby bruggies, thanks to ONE enabler here!
Well...good idea you have there ZZ! Giving those pots a tropical look too.
Thanks!

Jaye, Kel did a wonderful job!!! I can see a mini tropical collection in the vicinity. lol,lol.

This is Kel. "Don't give her any more ideas that would require my muscles, Kim"

Lucky you heavenscape ...what a nice Valentine's day gift :)
chrissy

Lol!! Didn't think of it as a nice Valentine's day gift, till you mentioned it, Chrissy. You should see him now, all smug!!!
Thanks Chrissy, and hope your Valentine's Day a loving one too!

ZZ, that bamboo fencing works for any color, any size pot. I wanted to keep the roots of my potted citrus trees cool while the tops remained in the sun. They are in 24" and 30" resin planters. I found myself watering just to cool the rootballs down during the summer.

Nice job, everyone. Hi Kel. :-)

The larger the pot, the better it's so we don't have to worry about wind knocking our brug down. They're roomy, thus we don't have to water them as often, since they're thristy plant. And light colored pot won't absorb as much heat. :-) Some of my cutting in years past.
Kim

Thanks heavenscape :) we had a lovely day yesterday lol ...it is 7am ...Friday the 15 th here :)
chrissy

Good idea on the roof, I wonder how it would hold up in our winters here. Maybe we can make one that can fold down.